Footage catches mobile Mattie’s drive time error

JUST last August, he accused Transport Minister Noel Dempsey of behaving like a “latter-day prince entitled to royal treatment” after the minister took the Government jet to Donegal rather than travelling by road.

But after being filmed apparently flouting the rules of those very same roads, Tipperary TD Mattie McGrath may have got himself in his very own right royal mess.

The renegade Fianna Fáil TD had just taken part in an interview “as Gaeilge” about this afternoon’s budget.

After giving his opinion to the camera he is then pictured inside his van.

He is shown reversing the vehicle, moving into forward gear and then as he drives off he takes his left hand off the wheel and raises the mobile phone to the side of his head.

Worse, the footage clearly showed the location for the interview had, like most of the country for the last week, suffered the effects of the sub-zero temperatures with patches of snow dotted around.

There is no chance of Mr McGrath claiming mistaken identity given that the vehicle in which he appeared to be committing the offence was emblazoned with several larger-than-life pictures of his very own face.

Both last night’s RTÉ Nuacht and TG4’s news bulletin gave prime space to the TD’s arguments.

But today the headlines should go to the Fianna Fáiler’s latest motoring foul up. Just over a year ago he caused controversy when he openly opposed changes to the drink driving limit saying he did not believe reducing the limit from 80mg to 50mg per 100ml of blood would affect a person’s ability to drive.

At the time he added insult to injury by saying: “I know people for whom drink is a relaxant and they might be more nervous without it.”

According to the Road Safety Authority, drivers are four times more likely to crash if they use a hand-held mobile phone while driving meaning they are risking their lives, the lives of their passengers and the lives of others.

Last night the Irish Examiner sought a comment from the normally outspoken TD. Ironically his mobile phone was switched off.